Cotton picking machine



Dec. 15, 1931. J o B PALMER 1,836,128

COTTON PICKING' MACHINE 9 Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Witness Dec. 15, 1931. J o, B PAL ER 1,836,128

COTTQN PICKING. MACHINE Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Elm undo;

, D e c. 15, 1931. O PALMER 1,836,128

COTTON PICKING MACHIN E Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 .j @g l 4 Q 2? 49 WWW Dec. 15, 1931. 1 Q PALMER 1,836,128

COTTON PICKING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 cf. Q ,3. Talmer J. o. B. PALMER 28 COTTON PICKIVNG MACHINE Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 15, 1931.

a 0 3 m 9 wk v 0% W MW a Z 2 0 z \4 a J 4, Q a W am m I u. m u VIII/fill Dec. 15, 1931. J. o. B. PALMER r 1,836,128

COTTON PICKING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 95 Q96 00 -99 -99 my; A

c '1 H mi /fi ff a vwwwto'c Q/viM woo I Zmer W I I v m Dec. 15, 1931. J. PALMER 1,836,128

COTTON PICKING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I 314mm Q vi tvwoo ,Z- 266277287" Clam/" 0 em I A aa w Patented Dec. 15, 1931 JAMES o'. s. .rnnmnn,

or EL PAso, TEXAS" I oorrolv ricnirre MACH NE Application filed June 20,

Thefinvention relates to machines'for pick-' ing cotton and it is one aim to provide a ma-. chine which may be readily converted to first pick all of the full blown cotton and tolater pick the cotton from the fully open boils and also pick the. bolls which" are not entirely open. I 1

l A further aim is to provide a'inachine which I will operate simultaneously .upon'both sides 0 of a straddled row and one side of the lateri ally spaced rows, at one trip 'across.the,ifield,' it being thus necessary to straddle only. the alternate rows, with a consequent saving in time and expense. i I

Another aim of the invention'is to provide.

a machine which will cut the stalks of the cotton plants near the ground after the cotton and bolis have been picked.

Still further .aims are to provide new and improved cotton and boll picking means; novel means for gatheringfallen cotton from the ground; unique adjusting means for the pickers, and a generally new and improved organization of elements in which a single motorpropels the entire machine and drives v various movable parts thereof.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the 'novelsuoject matter hereinafter descrihedand claimed, description be-' ing'acconiplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. I Q I w h .Fig. 1 is a side elevation showingthe general organization of parts.

' .Fi g. 2 is a top plan view. P Fig; 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view l on line of Figs. 1 and'2.

Fig. l is an upper end elevation of the con; I struction shown in Fig. 3, .as indicated'by' the arrow of theiatter figure; l Figs 5, 6. and 7" are horizontal-sectional' we on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a .view on line 8-8 of and 2. I d

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 99 of Figs. 1 and2. l p:

' Fig. 10 is another transverse sectional view on. line 10 -10 of Figs. 1 and 2. v Fig. .11 is a fragmentary horizontal s ec tion as indicated by line 11-11 of *Fig. 1.

are instrumental in conveying the picked cot;

vertical transverse sectional i "Wlii-h. .twouaterally spaced vertical :loars34:1

1929. serial No. 72,503.

a front longitudinal shaft 20 and a rear lo'ny gitudinal shafts21, the two shafts being rotatably mountedupon the frame 14 in any desired bearings and being driven respec tively by two variable speed transmissions 22 -23, said transmissions being'operatively. connected with; the motor 19. Mounted upon the rear portion of the frame 14; are two transverse shafts 24-25 driveh by appropriate gearing 2627 respectively; from the rear, longitudinal A shaft 21. Three "additional. transverse shafts 2913031 are mounted upon the front portion-of. fra'me l iand are driven by appropriate gearing 32.8 3l;3i re s'pectively, from" the shaft QOL ITheLshafts 293081 serve to drive rotarypickersghere-jQ inaftendescribed, shaft 24 drives .chains 85, fondriving the re.ar wheels'18, and sha'ft.25,. Q

. drives boll-conveying means as hereinafter explained. The rear; longitudinal shaft ..'21, 1

inadditijon to driving the transverse shafts I -24,- 25, drivesa "short transverse shaft, 36

through the instrumentalityof gearing; 37,

' andlbymeans of a belt 38 and appropriate pulleys, shaft 36 drives another trans' verse shaft 39 which isdi'rectly connected to. the rotors of twosuction fans .40, .which'fans ton,rearwardly'toappropriate containers not 1 I .fsf The front end of the frame 14 isprovided shown in a fgeneral' wayin Figs; 1 and 2 but illustrated primarily in Fig.3. Thetrans-l.

ve'rsejshaft 31 is carried by the upper ends of these bars landtwo bevel pinions. 42ers driven by and slidable along this shaft; j The pinions 42 mesh with bevel gears 43,said 7-75- cause the cotton read for ickin to readilv A at g for the shafts 44 of the brushes 45,, a single horizontal screw 49 is supported by bearings carried by the bars 41, for adjusting the bearings 47 toward and from each other, and two relatively short, axlally allned, lower" screws 50 are provlded for similarly ad usting the bGZLIIII S 48. Bearin s 51 are shown rotatabl T #3 5 I supportmg the screws 50. The outer ends of thesescrews are orovided with beveled ears 52 meshing with similar gears 53 on the lower ends of two vertical shafts 54 which are rotatably mounted at the outer sides of-the bars 41. The upper ends of the shafts 54 are similarly connected by beveled gearing 55 with the outer ends 'of the upper screw 49. Suitable provlsion 1s made for driving one of the shafts 54 as desired. For this purpose, a shaft 56 has been shown connected by appropriate gearing 57 with one of the shafts 54, said shaft 56 and gearing 57 being shown in Fig. 3 and indicated in Fig. 1. Driving of this shaft, due to the construction and relation of'parts', effects rotation of the upper screw 49 and the lower screws 50, thereby causing them to adjust the bearings 47-48 inwardly oroutwardly as may be required, and such bearingadjustment effects either wide or narrowspacing of the brushes 45, required. 7 1

Preferably, each brush45 consists of alter nate brush elements 58 and Spacers 59, the brush bristles being preferably of steel to catch upon them.

Behind the brushes '45, are two vertically.

' elongated tubes 60 carried by upper and lower the spiked'drum's 64 will be driven.

bracket arms 6162 which are suitably joined to the upper and lower bearings 4748 of the shafts 44. Theses tubes are provided with longitudinal slots'63 at the peripheries of the brushes 45," andin said tubes, spiked drums 64 are mounted longitudinally. The

' shafts of these drums are operatively connected attheir upper ends by chains 65 and sprockets 66- 67, with the brush shafts 44 so that as long as the brushesf45 are driven, The brushes roll toward the cotton, pick off all loose cotton therefrom, the spiked drums 64 remove this cotton fromthe brushes, and suct1on created in the tubes 60, carries the cotton to the rearof the machine. The tubes6O are connected withthe front ends of two longltu'd nal suction tubes 68 which communicate With the suction fan's40, flexible joints as may be or the like 69 being provided near the front ends of said tubes 68 to permit lateral movement of the Vertical tubes 60 with the brushes 45 when the latter are adjusted.

The brushes 45 straddle one row and remove the full blown cotton therefrom. Two additional, vertically elongated brushes 45 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) are provided, with their cotton-engaging portions spaced laterally outward from thepaths of the front and rear wheels 17-18, and these brushes gather the cotton from the inner sides of the two adjacent rows. Behind the brushes 45* are two brush-cleaning and cotton-conveying assemblies 60 constructed in the same manner as the groups of parts above described for cleaning cotton from the front brushes 45. The suction tubes of the assemblies 60 are connected with the suction tubes 68, and flexi ble coupling or the like 69 are provided to permit the necessary inward and outward; shifting of parts incident to adjusting of the brushes 45 as may be required. By reference more'particularly to Fig. 8, the manner in which these brushes are driven and adjusted will be seen. Bevel gears 42 are driven by and slidable upon the shaft 30 which is 10- cated above the brushes 45 These gears 42 mesh with similar gears 43 on the upper endsof'the brush shafts 44*. An upper adjusting screw 49" and two lower adjusting screws 50 are provided for inwardly and outwardly shifting the upper and lower, bearings 47 48 of the shafts44' and the provision for simultaneously, driving said screws, is so snn1lar to that above explalned for dr1v1ng the screws 49-50, that further explanation will not be required. When making'inward and outward adjustments of the brushes 45 yokes 46 operate in the same manner as the yokes 46, to keep the gears 4243f in mesh with each other.

A front pair of .vertically elongated, forwardly converging boll-gathering plates 7' 5 and a rear pair of similar plates 7 5 are pro-' vided to engage opposite sides of the row being straddled for :the purpose of removing all bolls therefrom. The construction of both pairs of plates and the mounting means thereof are identical and hence these features will be described only in connection with the front plates 75. These plates are seen more particularlyinFigs. 11 and 12., Their rearedges .are secured to vertical shafts 76 suitably mounted in bearings upon theframe 14, while their front edges are provided with long bollgathering fingers'77. Suitable means may be provided for turning the shafts 7 6 to swing the two plates 7 5 toward or from each other 'accordingto the width of the straddled row.

In Figs. 1 and 2,1 have indicated crank arms 78 on the upper ends of the shafts 7 6, said arms being connected to longitudinal rods 79. These rods .are shown connected with hand levers 79 provided with appropriate devices Lemmas.

. 7 9" by means of whichthey maybe locked in adjusted position.v Somewhat in front of the plates -75 75, are vertical rotary drums 80-'80 which are provided with curved bollegathering fingers 81 -81 respectively. The drums .80 J are driven by. bevel gearing 82 from the shaft 30, and the rear drums 80 are similarly driven by ineans of the shaft 29.- A.ppropriate bearing brackets are. provided for the upper ends of theshafts of the drums 8080 an illustration ofthe bracketsifor the drums 8O 9 th; whichthey-are driven. Chains 95 and sprockets operatively connect the shafts 98 being given at. 83in Fig. 8. The lowerends of theshafts in question may be rotatably mounted in stepfbearings 84 supported by two outwardly declined receiving platforms orthe'like 85 upon which the bolls ClIOP'fIOIII the plates 75 75 and the drums 80.--80

These platforms or the like 85 are shown'niost clearly inFigs. 8, 11 and. 12 and the outer.

portions thereof discharge into longitudinal troughs or other conductors'i'ifi forthecotton.

bolls. vWithin these. conductors, 'screwyconveyors :8? have been shown. Y The. rear-.ex-

tremities of the conveyor shafts 88 (Fig. 1')

are driven byzbevel gearing 89 from inclined shafts 90 which aresimilarly driven by the shafts above described. ,The bolls discharged frol'n the rear ends of the conductors 86may be receivedinsuitable containers (not.

shown) I Novel provision is made for gathering any fallen cotton from the ground without picking up any trash thereon. This provision is shown-more particularlyin Figs. Land 9.'

From these views, it will be seen that vertical suction tubes 68" extend down'wardlyfroin the "fans and have their lower ends turned laterally inward as at 60*. Within these tube ends 60' are-spiked drums 64 which correspond with the drums'64 above: described,

being-disposed at longitudinal-slots .inthe lower sides ofthe tube' portions 602. Tuner and outer bearing brackets'9l,92are shown With the shafts of the drums 642*.f0r driving the latter; .As long-as the machine is'being' propelled, the ;Wheels 94 drive the brushes at such speed as to cause said brushesto.

merely roll along the ground causing'thenrto spear and lift any fallen cotton from 'the ground. By driving thebrushes 45 atsuch speed'as to cause them to merely-roll along the ground, while they-will effectively spear and lift fallen cotton, they will not brush any dirt upwardly .to bedrawn .into' the ma chine through the-horizontal ends of. the

suction tubes 68 .The rotary-. .dr mis64fremove." the. cotton fro'in the brushes, andithef I 'suctionzthroughthe tubes 68*, .rernovesthe I cotton from said drums, this cotton being carried on to the fans 40, and discharged with. that coming from the brushes f5'45.

- At the rear of the machine,-rotarycutters' 96 are provided fonts stalks from which fall cottonfand bolls have been removed. The

cutters are carried by the lower ends ofrverti cal shafts 97= which are drivenby gearing 98 froma transverse shaft .99, said shafthaving:

sprockets 100 Which engage: the driving chains 35 of the rearvvheelsv 18.

During the first picking or. pickings, the

cutters 96 andp'refera'blytheir driving means also, "are removed from the machined'rfI l'i'en too it is "preferableatuthatqtimeto remove the bollpickers 75 and :'.80 using only rotary brushes forthe picking operation. If desired, additional brushes suchas .45 and 45 may be then used in place of the drums. 80--801,'but this is not essential; .With themachine' thus conditioned, "it 'is propelled' astride of arrow and theinnerrotarybrushes removetthev cotton from this: row, while the outer brushes 45* remove the cotton from the inner sides of two adjacent rows, all ofthe. picked cotton being carried rearwardly .by i

suction and discharged. into the containers (not shown). Any cotton: falling' upon. the ground'is picked up by thehorizontal-rotary 3 brushes 45 andiis carried on rearwardly with r that coming from the front of the machine.

For. later picking; the boll gathere rs 75'75-.and 8080lare again placed upon the ;-machine. and all bolls gathered thereby Will fall onto the receivers 85 and from the" v latter will be. carried rearwardly by the con-1 veyors87. For the final picking, the rotary cutters 96 are installed so that the completely picked plants will be cut from the ground.

7 The general c'onstructionxshown"and do scribed is preferably;followed, but attention is invited to the, factthat thepresent disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and within the scop'e'of the invention as claimed,

numerousvariations may be 'm-ade- I'cla1m:-. p I

1. Acotton picker coinprising a horizontal frame, Wheels s'upportingthe frontand rear ends thereof, a: motor mountedon said :frame i between the front and rear ends thereof; at front andarear longitudinal shaft mounted on the "frame in cadvan'ceiof and behind the motor.respectively, frontiand rearftr-ansmissions "operatively' connecting the :front "and rear shafts respectively with the-motor, frar transverse shafting mounted on -the frame" behind the-motor and 'operativelyconnected 7 with saidrear longitudinal shaft, front transi verse.shaftingmountedon the frame in ad-..

Vance of themotor and operativelyconnectedi wlth. said front longitudinal shaft, .icotton' picking meanscarried: by the front portion of said frame, driving connections between the front transverse shafting and said. picklng means, and drivlng connections between said rear transverse shafting and therear Wheels of the machine.

2. A cottonpicker-comprising a horizontal frame, wheels supporting thefront and rear ends thereof, a motor mounted on said frame between the front and rear ends thereof, a

' front and a rear lo-ngitudinalshaft mounted on theframe inadvance ofrand behind the motor respectively, front and rear transmispicking means carried by-the front portion of said frame, driving 'connections'betwe'en' the front transverse shafting and said picking means, picked cotton conveying tubes anda's'uction fan therefor mountedon the frame, and driving connections for said fan and the rear'wheels of the machine operativeconnectediwith said rear transverse shafting.

'3. A cotton picker comprising a horizontal frame, wheels supporting the front and rear ends thereof, a motor mounted on saidframe between the front and rear ends thereof, a front and a rear longitudinal shaft mounted on the frame'in advance of and'behind the motor respectively, front and rear transmis sions operativelyconnecting the frontand verse shafting mounted on the frame" in ad\ rear shafts respectivelywiththe motor, rear transverse shafting mounted on the frame behind the motor and operatively connected with said rear longitudinal shaft,'fron't trans- Vance of the motor and operatively connected wlth said front longitudinal shaft, cotton picking means carried bythe front portion of said frame, drlving connections between the front transverse shafting and said picking means, picked cotton conveying'tubes and a suction fan therefor mounted on the frame, boll picking and boll conveying meansralso mounted on said frame, and driving connections for said fan, said boll conveying means" and" the rear wheels of the machine, these driving connections being operatively con- V to remove cotton from thebrush, and'a driv-' ing connectlon between'saldfbru'sh and s'a1d nected with said rear transverse shafting,

4. In a cotton picker, a: frame, a horizontal driven shaft mounted thereon, bevel pinions slidable alongand driven by said shaft, two

vertical pickers'having shafts'whose upper ends are provided with bevel gears meshing with said pinions, yokes holdingsaid pinions andgea'rs in mesh with each other, up-

per and lower b'earings for the picker shafts, upperand lower horizontal screws rotatably mounted on the frame and connected with. saidupper and lower bearingsrespectively for adjusting them inwardly and outwardly, and driving means for said screws. 7 q a 5. In a cotton pickerya' frame, a llOI'lZOIl tal driven shaft mounted thereon, bevel'pinions slidable' along. and driven by said-shaft, two vertical pickers having shafts whose upper ends are provide'dwith bevel gears meshing with I said pinions, yokes holding said pinions and gears in mesh with each other, upper and lower bearings for the picker shafts, a single upper horizontal screw mounted on the frame and connected with said upper bearings for adjusting them in-. wardly and outwardly, two relative'lyshort 5 lower horizontalscrews axially alin'ed with each other, and spacedfapart, .said lower screws being connected with 'said'lower bearings foradjus ting them inwardlyand outwardly, two vertical shaft'smounted on the frame at the outer ends ofand extending between the upper and lowershafts, bevel gearing connecting the three screws with saidivertical shafts," and meanslfor driving one of said vertical shafts to eifect'simultaneous driving of the three screws, i

:6. In a cotton picker, a-portable frame, two vertically elongated row-straddling plates mounted on said frame and converging forwardly, the front portions of said plates having boll picking fingers, two vertically elongated drums mounted on the frame'ifand spaced laterally outward from the front ends of said fingers, said drums also having boll picking fingers-means under said plates and drums for receiving the picked bolls, conveying means on the'frame for carrying the bollsfrom said receiving means, and 'driv ing means for said drums and said conveying means; 1 V I I 71A structure as specifi'edin claim 6;said plates being pivotally mounted at their rear. edges, and adjusting means forswinging 'said plates inwardly and outwardly; I I 8. In arcottonipicking machine, afportable frame, a rotatable horizontal brush mounted on said frame with'its axis'transverse to the" line of travel of the machine, said brush be ing adapted to spear and lift fallen cotton from the ground, a ground wheel secured co axially to said brush for driving the'same at a speed to merely cause rolling thereof along the ground as the machineadvances, a spiked drum and a suction tube contalning the same spiked drum.

and having its lower portion turned laterally and formed with a slot extending longitu' dinally of its lowerside, a rotatablebrush un der said lateral tube portion with its upper portion disposedlat said slot, said brush be i ing adapted for picking fallen cotton from the ground,bearing brackets'for said brush secured to said tube, ground wheels secured co-axially to said brush for driving the same, a spiked drum mounted longitudinally in said lateral tube portion for removing cotton from said brush, and driving connections between said brush and drum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affiXed my signature.

JAMES O. B. PALMER. 

